Finding Relief from Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye is uncomfortable. It can cause burning, stinging, scratchy, or gritty feelings in your eyes. Dry eye can also cause redness, light sensitivity, blurry vision, or watery eyes.
However, you don’t need to suffer in silence. We offer a variety of dry eye treatments to help soothe your symptoms and provide relief. From medicated eye drops to nutritional support, take-home devices to in-office treatments, we have a strategy that will work for you.
Whether you are suffering from dry eye or your eye irritation is caused by allergies, dry winter air, or other factors, we’ll work with you to create a personalized plan for relief.
Request AppointmentOur Technology to Diagnose & Treat Dry Eye
We screen for dry eye in all our adult eye exams. During your exam, we use the Oculus 5M to check your meibomian glands, which are important for tear production, and your tear film.
This device helps us test the quality of your tears and determine the cause of your symptoms. If you are diagnosed with dry eye, we will work with you to form a treatment plan.
Some of our dry eye treatments include our low-level light therapy (LLLT), a noninvasive treatment that stimulates the meibomian glands to improve their function. We may also prescribe at-home treatments like NuLids, supplements, eyelid sprays, medicated drops, and more, depending on the cause of your symptoms.
Is It Allergies or Dry Eye? Understand the Difference
North Central Iowa, including Mason City, sees significant spring and fall allergies, causing watery, red, or scratchy eyes. Although allergy symptoms can resemble dry eye, they have different causes.
Allergies are your immune system’s response to irritants like pollen, while dry eye results from improper tear lubrication.
A healthy tear film is made up of 3 layers (oil, water, and mucus). When the balance of this tear film is off, dry eye symptoms typically appear. A common cause is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), which impacts the production of the tear film’s oily layer, allowing tears to evaporate too quickly.
Our comprehensive eye exams can differentiate between allergies and dry eye. If pollen or other allergies are affecting your well-being, we’ll offer personalized recommendations, including when to see an allergist.
In-Office Treatment: LLLT for Dry Eye
We understand how much dry eye can affect your daily life. That’s why we offer low-level light therapy for our patients in-office. This device helps restore function to your meibomian glands through a noninvasive treatment.
LLLT at Dr. Korthals & Associates is a relaxing experience. Once you arrive, we’ll set you up in our treatment room. We’ll gently wipe your face to remove any oils, then you can lie back while we set up the light.
During the session, you’ll lie under the light for around 10 minutes with your eyes closed. You can imagine you’re lying on the beach with the sun shining over you. Some of our patients have even fallen asleep during treatments.
Our team will guide you through the treatment process and provide recommendations on the number and frequency of visits you’ll need.
Other Dry Eye Treatments
We also offer a variety of at-home and in-office treatments to provide you with relief. We will work with you to determine the most suitable treatment plan tailored to your specific symptoms and lifestyle.If you’ve already met with us to develop a treatment plan, you can find our recommended at-home treatment products on our convenient online store.
At-Home Treatment
- Bruder eye mask: This microwavable eye mask refreshes and relieves dryness through short, 10-minute sessions.
- Eyelid sprays: Cleanse and soothe eyelids and lashes to relieve symptoms.
- Medicated eye drops: These prescription eye drops often provide more targeted relief than over-the-counter drops to reduce dry eye irritation.
- Preservative-free eye drops: Choose a preservative-free option to avoid aggravating your symptoms.
- Omega-3 supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids formulated specifically for dry eye treatment.
- Traquileyes: Specialized sleep googles designed for comfort and to protect eyes from drafts, low humidity, and dust, all contributors to dry eye.
In-Office Treatments
- Meibomian gland expression: A gentle massage of the meibomian glands to express them and improve oil production.
- Punctal plugs: Small devices inserted by the eye doctor into the corner of the eye to prevent tears from draining too quickly.
- NuLids: Can choose between in-office or at-home treatment. A quick treatment option that takes about 30 seconds per eye, NuLidsS cleans eyelids and lashes and helps relieve symptoms of dry eye. We offer a discount of 4 sessions off if you choose to purchase your own NuLids device to use at home.
Soothe Your Dry Eye Today
At Dr. Korthals & Associates, we’re committed to helping you soothe your worst dry eye symptoms. We believe that no one should have to live with the discomfort of dry eye.
If you’re experiencing dry eye symptoms, we encourage you to visit us in Mason City or Lakes Mills for a comprehensive eye exam. Take the next step for your health and comfort and book an eye exam today.
Request AppointmentVisit Our North Central Iowa Eye Clinics
With 2 convenient locations in North Central Iowa, we are happy to serve Cerro Gordo, Winnebago, Floyd, Hanock, and Kossuth Counties, and beyond.
Mason City
We’re located on South Pierce Avenue near the 4th Street SW intersection and across from Walgreens.
- 422 S Pierce Ave
- Mason City, IA 50401
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Lake Mills
Find us on West Main Street between Mill Street and Washington Street.
- 213 W. Main
- Lake Mills, IA 50450
Hours of Operation
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Our Eyewear Brands
Our Google Reviews
Our Blogs
Your Eyes In The Digital World
Eye Health and DiseasesIt’s no secret we live in a very digital world and use digital devices throughout the day. While we cannot escape exposure to digital devices and blue light, it is important to know how our eyes are affected by our changing technological environment. […]
Protecting Your Eyes in Every Season
Eye Health and DiseasesThere are many things we need to protect our eyes from all year round, including allergies, dry eye, and harmful UV rays. Each of these could affect your eyes any day of the year. Take a look at these tips for protecting your eyes so you can stay allergy-free […]
6 Common Eye Symptoms and What to Do
Eye Health and DiseasesSuffering from eye discomfort or blurry vision can be scary, especially if it comes on suddenly or is a result of a dramatic event. Below are some of the common eye-related disorders. However, remember that common doesn’t mean it should be ignored. […]
Your Eyes In The Digital World
It’s no secret we live in a very digital world and use digital devices throughout the day. While we cannot escape exposure to digital devices and blue light, it is important to know how our eyes are affected by our changing technological environment. […]
Protecting Your Eyes in Every Season
There are many things we need to protect our eyes from all year round, including allergies, dry eye, and harmful UV rays. Each of these could affect your eyes any day of the year. Take a look at these tips for protecting your eyes so you can stay allergy-free […]
6 Common Eye Symptoms and What to Do
Suffering from eye discomfort or blurry vision can be scary, especially if it comes on suddenly or is a result of a dramatic event. Below are some of the common eye-related disorders. However, remember that common doesn’t mean it should be ignored. […]
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Lake Mills
- 213 W. Main
- Lake Mills, IA 50450
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P: 641-592-1801
drkorthalsandassoc@hotmail.com
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Mason City
- 422 S Pierce Ave
- Mason City, IA 50401
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P: 641-424-0780
drkorthalsandassoc@hotmail.com